NameCensus.

UK surname

Kong

A Chinese surname referring to an ancient state or kingdom, or a descendant of Confucius.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Kong surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 991, ranked #5,843, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Swansea and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kong is 991 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16416.7%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

991

2016, ranked #5,843

Peak year

2016

991 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kong had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 991 in 2016, ranked #5,843.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kong surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kong surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kong surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kong over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 2 #33,133
1861 historical 20 #31,364
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 526 #8,963
1998 modern 546 #8,983
1999 modern 573 #8,702
2000 modern 582 #8,583
2001 modern 581 #8,469
2002 modern 628 #8,180
2003 modern 660 #7,739
2004 modern 674 #7,634
2005 modern 696 #7,386
2006 modern 728 #7,153
2007 modern 776 #6,866
2008 modern 777 #6,920
2009 modern 786 #6,987
2010 modern 918 #6,291
2011 modern 932 #6,157
2012 modern 938 #6,048
2013 modern 966 #5,992
2014 modern 975 #5,981
2015 modern 976 #5,923
2016 modern 991 #5,843

Geography

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Where Kongs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, Swansea, Camden and Westminster. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 026 Manchester
2 Swansea 025 Swansea
3 Camden 023 Camden
4 Westminster 018 Westminster
5 Manchester 055 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kong

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kong surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kong

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kong, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kong surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kong household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kong is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kong is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kong falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kong is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kong, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kong

The surname Kong originated in China, where it first appeared around the 6th century CE. The name is derived from the Chinese word "kong," meaning "vast" or "empty," and may have originally referred to someone who lived in a remote or sparsely populated area.

In ancient Chinese records, the earliest known mention of the surname Kong can be found in the Sui Dynasty (581-618 CE) text "Beitang Shuchao," which lists it among the noble families of the time. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), the Kong surname was particularly prominent in the regions of Henan and Shandong provinces.

One of the most famous historical figures with the Kong surname was Kong Qiu, better known as Confucius (551-479 BCE), the renowned Chinese philosopher and teacher whose ideas and writings had a profound influence on East Asian culture and thought. Another notable person was Kong Rong (153-208 CE), a prominent scholar and statesman during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

In the 13th century, the Mongolian leader Kublai Khan appointed a man named Kong Xuan as the governor of Xiangyang, a strategic city in what is now Hubei province. Kong Xuan's descendants continued to hold power in the region for several generations, contributing to the spread of the Kong surname.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE), the Kong surname was particularly prevalent in the provinces of Shandong, Henan, and Jiangsu. One notable figure from this period was Kong Qi (1562-1619), a renowned painter and calligrapher who served as an official in the Ming imperial court.

In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 CE), the Kong surname remained prominent in northern China. One notable individual was Kong Youde (1832-1890), a scholar and reformer who advocated for modernization and Western learning during the late Qing period.

Throughout history, the Kong surname has been associated with scholars, officials, and intellectuals in China, reflecting the Confucian values of education and public service that were deeply ingrained in Chinese culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kong families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kong surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 5 Kongs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.56x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 5 8.56x
Suffolk 1 14.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 3 Kongs recorded in 1881 and an index of 96.15x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 3 96.15x
Bethnal Green London 2 78.74x
Ipswich St Clement 1 555.56x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kong surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Eliza 1
Martha 1
Mary 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kong surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 1
Jesse 1
Samuel 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kong households.

FAQ

Kong surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kong surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Kong surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kong surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 991 in 2016. That gives Kong a modern rank of #5,843.

What does the Kong surname mean?

A Chinese surname referring to an ancient state or kingdom, or a descendant of Confucius.

What does the Kong map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kong bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.